How to Keep Your Smile Healthy This Holiday Season

With the holiday season comes lots of traveling, gift exchanges, and of course, yummy treats! Even if you’re not physically going anywhere this year, many people let their health fall by the wayside during the holidays. This is especially true when it comes to oral health. Neglecting your dental hygiene in preparation for virtual or real family gatherings could cause you to start off the new year with painful cavities. A dentist in Hammonton has a few tips for enjoying the holidays while keeping your smile healthy.

Take It Easy on the Candy Canes

It’s no secret that candy canes are pretty much pure sugar. Sucking on them bathes your teeth in sugar for quite some time, which fuels cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Chewing on them isn’t any better, though. Biting down wrong on a candy cane can crack your tooth. It can even make restorations like dental crowns fracture or fall off altogether. You don’t have to completely give up candy canes and other crunchy holiday foods, but eat them sparingly, and brush your teeth afterward.

Drink Plenty of Water

Holiday parties are often rife with beverages that are harmful to your teeth, such as soda and wine. Soda’s acidic nature can wear away your tooth enamel, leaving you more prone to decay and sensitivity. In addition to notoriously staining your teeth, wine dries out your mouth, making it harder to wash away food debris and bacteria.

For a fizzy, festive alternative to soda, try drinking sparkling water instead. If you simply must drink soda, however, sip it through a straw to minimize the acid’s contact with your teeth. The healthiest choice of all, though, is to drink water whenever you can.

Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene

Even if you’re only traveling for one night, make sure to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Going even a single night without cleaning your teeth before bed can greatly increase your risk of cavities. Fortunately, many stores sell travel-sized dental hygiene kits that include these items.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Nuts contain valuable vitamins and minerals, but cracking them with your teeth certainly isn’t healthy! You could easily fracture one of your pearly whites, which can be painful and expensive to treat. Reach for the nutcracker instead. Similarly, don’t use your teeth to tear open holiday gifts. Savor the suspense by taking the time to unwrap it with your hands.

The holiday season comes with plenty of opportunities to damage your smile, but if you follow these tips, you can start the new year off right with a beautiful, healthy grin!

About the Author

Dr. David Crescenzo, a dentist in Hammonton, NJ, completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at Georgetown Dental School. Since then, he has used his impressive experience, clinical expertise, and genuine passion for dentistry to help countless patients achieve pristine oral health. Today, he continues to stay abreast of the latest technology and techniques through advanced training at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. If you are interested in keeping your smile healthy and bright this holiday season, visit Dr. Crescenzo’s website or give his office a call at 609-561-0058.